“May the bard-priests sing of your mercy for centuries to come.” Evain nuzzles his hair again. Disengages his fingers and slides his hands up Leth’s arms. “Turn around.”
Leth twists around to kneel in front of Evain. His eyes glitter in the firelight, and there’s a wary edge to his gaze, but no dismay or disgust. “What?”
Evain tucks a strand of hair behind Leth’s ear, lingering against the delicate shell. “I need to kiss you.”
Leth’s eyes drop to his lips. “For the magic?”
“If you’d like the excuse.” Evain leans in, and Leth doesn’t pull away.
?
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
LETH
Their second kiss is far more intense than their first. The only storm is the thundering of Leth’s heart; the only wild magic is the fire cascading through his nerves. Evain’s lips are slow and steady against his, grounding him in the moment. As the last of his reservations shatter, Leth can’t deny himself anymore. He’s out of excuses not to want this.
Miles away from everywhere he’s ever known, this insistent, infuriating man tastes like home. Better. Leth never belonged at home the way he belongs in Evain’s arms right now.
Evain touches his ear again, and the sparks of pleasure race straight to his cock. Leth never knew his ear could be so sensitive. Then Evain’s palm curves over the back of his neck, and Leth’s breath punches out of him. Overwhelmed by the simplicity of the touch, Leth doesn’t know how he’ll survive anything more than this.
But he wants to find out.
Leth pulls away, panting, and tries to wrestle his breathing under control. Evain’s hand tightens on the back of his neck, keeping him close enough that their breath mingles between their lips.
“Don’t do that,” Evain says, his voice like heated silk.
“What?”
Evain grins. “Don’t control yourself. I want to drive you crazy.”
Leth’s breath shudders away as Evain seizes his mouth again. There’s nothing slow or steady about this kiss. Evain pushes, and Leth follows until he lies flat on the dusty floor. Evain’s hand rests protectively behind his head, and his tongue delves deep, igniting every nerve in Leth’s body. Leth groans into the kiss, and the next slick movement of Evain’s lips drives away his momentary embarrassment.
Evain maps out his ribs, waist, arms with leisurely, exhilarating touches. Leth bucks up reflexively, and Evain grins against his mouth. “Like that, gorgeous.”
“Do you ever stop talking?” Leth gasps, tangling his own hands in Evain’s long hair and yanking him down. Evain just laughs, until Leth silences him in another kiss.
He’s not as good at this as Evain is. His experience is limited, and Evain’s is obviously not. A tiny, insecure corner of Leth’s mind—one of the few corners not overwhelmed by Evain’s touch—worries that Evain can tell. Maybe he’ll regret starting this because Leth isn’t good at it.
Leth doesn’t know when he started to care what Evain thought of him, but he can’t help it. He’s never been good enough at anything. Why should this be any different?
“You’re distracted.” Evain sighs, sitting back. “I must be losing my touch.”
“Sorry.” A stupid, childish fear spikes through Leth—that by worrying about fucking up, he’s ruined this anyway. His family didn’t want him; his god didn’t want him. Why should Evain?
“Tell me what’s wrong,” Evain says, as if that’s an easy thing to ask. Maybe for him it is. “I don’t want to wake up to… Actually, the last time I woke up to a knife at my throat was pretty hot.”
Nothing’s wrong,Leth wants to say. He wants to don his denial like armor, hiding his weak points. But exhaustion and desire have shattered his defenses. “I guess I was just wondering what you see in me.”
Evain stares, like one or both of them truly has gone insane, then leans in to kiss just the corner of Leth’s mouth. “I see you,” Evain says. “That’s all I want to see. Come here.”
Leth leans back in Evain’s arms again, and this time Evain pushes his hair away to kiss the back of his neck. Tenderness tingles across his skin. Then Evain bites, and Leth’s thoughts scatter with a groan.
“I can feel how much you want me, you know,” Evain says against his nape. His hand wanders towards Leth’s trouser laces. “I’ve felt it for ages, but I didn’t realize it was you until that morning at the Dancing Hog.”
Evain really doesn’t shut up. Leth can’t focus on his insecurities when Evain’s hand is at his waistband, and Evain’s cock is hard against his ass.
“You’re like nobody I’ve ever met,” Evain continues. “Do you know how much effort I’ve spent restraining myself for the past few weeks? Every part of you entices me.”
